Incredibles 2 Theatrical Review
Incredibles
2 is a
(drum-roll, please) incredible
(yes, pun is intended)
trip back to the magic well that
writer-director Brad Bird (Tomorrowland, The
Iron Giant,
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) started 15 years
ago. The
film is a jubilant blast of entertainment that will satisfy fans
craving for a return to this fantastic world and these beloved
characters.
We once
again are reunited
with the coolest superhero family in cinema: dad Mr. Incredible
(Craig T. Nelson), mother Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), daughter Violet,
son Dash, and baby Jack-Jack. The film picks up immediately where the
first film left off and it's as though no time has passed by at all.
Our favorite family of superheroes faces off against The Underminer
and are tossed into an action-packed event that brings the film into
focus full-speed. As the story unfolds further, we learn that
superheroes are still facing serious discrimination by the media and
government with it still being outlawed to be a "Super" that
fights crime.
A
hot-shot business man with
a vision, Winston (Bob Odenkirk) believes he has a way to fix the
issue of superheroes being "banned" from being super. He sees it
as a publicity issue. The media sees heroes as being vigilantes (not
as ordinary people trying to save the world by using incredible
powers). He seeks out meeting both Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl to
recruit the superheroes as spokespersons for the superhero movement.
Elastigirl
takes center stage
with this recruitment (apparently she does just as well at saving the
day as Mr. Incredible with significantly less damage done to
buildings and infrastructure). Mr. Incredible finds himself sticking
behind at home to raise the kids while Elastigirl heads out to save
the day.
Mr.
Incredible (aka Bob)
finds himself in a lot of trouble with his increased parental tasks
as he looks after baby Jack-Jack, daughter Violet, and son Dash.
Jack-Jack apparently has a gazillion superpowers and is maybe the
most gifted of the family: besides his ability to turn into a raging
demon when not given a cookie he can walk through walls, burst into
flames, shoot laser-beams out of his eyes, and much, much more. The
walking through walls thing is especially problematic as Bob can't
get him to stay put in his crib.
Meanwhile,
Violet struggles
with her emotions as she has a crush on a boy at school (whose memory
of her gets erased by a superhero relocation leader that Bob knows).
She shouts with a fury: "Boys are mean and superheroes are stupid!"
Dash struggles with completing his math homework (which Bob can't
easily help with as it's "new math" to him).
Elastigirl (aka Helen) finds herself in a prickly superhero
pickle
when another villain comes into the picture: The Screenslaver. The
Screenslaver is determined to make zombies out of people (using film
signals to send out dark messages into the universe). Who is the
mysterious screenslaver? And can Elastigirl stop them before it's too
late?
Despite
all the superhero
shenanigans part of the fun of Incredibles 2 is in
how the film focuses just as much on the ordinary family dynamics of
these characters as it focuses on the thrilling action-packed
sequences. While Bird constantly finds ways to impress with visual
dazzle and exciting scenes the heart of the movie is about family.
This makes the movie so much more personal and deeply felt than your
average superhero film.
The production aesthetics on the film are also remarkable in
every
sense: the animation done on the film somehow manages to top the
original (which is saying something as the original still looks quite
stunning to this day). The nuance of the art is superb. The level of
detail and richness to the imagery makes the experience all the more
magical.
Featuring a score by the great Michael Giacchino (The
Incredibles, Star Wars: Rogue One, Up,
Ratatouille), the film's music buzzes with energy,
creativity,
and most importantly: fun. This is a entertaining score that swells
with emotion when the time is right and jazzes up the action scenes
whenever they arise. Giacchino (my favorite composer) delivers
another knockout experience that explores both the serious and fun
side of the composer's musicality.
Writer-Director Brad Bird has outdone himself. Every scene
feels
well thought out and executed. Execution is key to a great film and
Bird always delivers on this promise in spades. The film has a
undeniable energy and charm that simply never lets go. The characters
are brilliant and the story is exciting. The film even has some great
classic references (The Outer Limits, anyone?) and
some
interesting social commentary. The Screenslaver subplot is an
undeniable reflection back on the audience for our immersion in
today's cellphones, streaming, and reliance on technology.
Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema. He aspires to make movies and has written two screenplays on spec. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.